Arts as a gateway for prisoners

25 February 2010
Paintings, carvings, kete and puoro (traditional Māori musical instruments) were among the artworks created by prisoners and presented by the Otago Corrections Facility at the Lawrence Summer Arts Festival in Central Otago in late January.

In line with Corrections’ policy, prisoners were unable to benefit from the sale of artworks. They were, however, allowed to sell their art if the proceeds went to charity. Three pieces were donated to the festival auction.

It was the first time that the Lawrence Summer Arts Festival held an auction. Sixty-three pieces were in the auction and only eight were sold. One of these works was created by a prisoner.

Dorothy Louise Crofts, Programmes Manager, Otago/Southland, says that Canteen was the prisoner’s choice of charity.
 
“The prisoner was really happy with the sale and it was a huge boost to his confidence,” she says. “He’s very talented and this has helped him see that he has a future as an artist when he is released.”
 
Involving prisoners in art is also a gateway to other types of education. “When we started putting the exhibition together we could see the difference in the prisoners' self-esteem. The men discovered they had skills they didn't know they had.

“Things like this have a flow-on effect and they become interested in taking part in other programmes such as Storybook Dads and creative writing. They start to see the value of reading, writing and education in general.”

The Otago Corrections Facility presented a wide range of art at the Lawrence festival – from canvas work to carvings, harakeke kete, puoro and poetry. There were also matchstick objects such as jewellery boxes and a replica of a 1914 Harley Davidson, along with ice-cream stick objects, sketches and pastel work.